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Linux comes in many "flavors" called distributions, each geared
towards a different type of user. Below is a list of distributions
available. For more information about the various distributions, try
the following outside links:
Note: If you know what distribution you want, and have access to
a CD recorder, you may want to download and burn the ISOs for the
distribution before arriving at the InstallFest.
Listed below are links to where you can download the ISO
files, where available.
· RedHat 7.3
RedHat Linux is considered by many to be the best distribution for
beginners. It is designed for those who simply want to get Linux
working on their system with a minimum amount of effort. The advantage
is that Linux can be learned from the top down rather than the bottom up as
with many other distributions that require prior knowledge of the
workings of Linux and Unix.
Note: The beta version of RedHat's next release (codenamed
"null") is now available. A large number of changes have been integrated
since 7.3; see the
Release Notes
and the Readme.
Also, read the announcement.
· Mandrake 8.2
Linux-Mandrake was once known as the "better RedHat." This is because
they used to wait a month or two after a major RedHat release and redo the
things that they thought RedHat did wrong. But now Mandrake has evolved
into its own fully developed distro. Mandrake now competes with RedHat
for the easiest to install and use. Mandrake also touts itself on being
one of the first to support new hardware and software. Mandrake is a
good choice for someone is who is just starting Linux
and wants all the new hardware support. The best thing about Mandrake is
that is still RedHat compatable so support is as plentiful as RedHat
support from the Linux Community.
· Debian 3.0
Debian is a distribution for those who wish to dig deeper into the inner
workings of Linux, yet still want the ease of maintenance provided by a
package management system. Debian lacks many of the friendlier features
of distributions like Redhat or Mandrake, yet doesn't share the minimalist
philosophy towards software management found in Slackware. Though Debian
has a more strict interpretation of what constitutes "free" software,
there are a wide range of packages available, and dependencies and upgrades
are handled in a user-friendly manner through apt. Prior knowledge of
Unix and Linux is recommended.
· Gentoo 1.2
Gentoo is a relative newcomer amongst Linux distributions, but offers
fresh new ideas for installing, running, and maintaining a Linux system.
Through the "Portage" system (which draws its inspiration from the
FreeBSD "Ports Collection"), intermediate and advanced
users can keep their system up-to-date quickly and easily. Like Debian,
prior knowledge of Unix and Linux is recommended before
trying this distribution.
· Slackware 8.1
Slackware is one of the oldest distributions of Linux. It lacks many
'user-friendly' features that can be taken for granted with many other
distros. However, for those who want to get into the guts of Linux, there
is not a better choice. This gives the system administrator more power
and control to make Linux exactly what he wants it to be (assuming he
can wield all that power). To see how it used to be done back when Linux
was still young, give this distro a try.
· SuSE 8.0
Originally begun as a German Linux distribution, SuSE has become
increasingly popular in the US and is the number one Linux distibution in
Europe. It is considered one of the most complete distros available, with
many software packages available for almost any application. SuSE is a great
distro for beginners, on par with RedHat.
· Yellow Dog Linux 2.3
Yellow Dog is a PowerPC port of Linux based on Red Hat 7.0 components,
designed to be easy to use and compatible with a wide range of PowerPC-based
hardware.
· FreeBSD 4.6.2
FreeBSD is a "Linux-like" free Unix operating system based on the BSDlite
source code. Its main focus is for servers, but it can also function as
a workstation OS, supporting most Linux applications. The extensive
"Ports Collection" makes installation of software simple and relatively
painless, and the "Linuxulator" system allows compiled Linux
applications (such as Netscape, StarOffice, and VMWare) to run without
modification. However, hardware support tends to lag behind Linux.
Note: The developer preview of the next generation of
FreeBSD (5.0) is now available. Note that the 5.0 branch is under heavy
development; this release is mainly for users and developers interested in
new features of the 5.0 branch.
· OpenBSD 3.1
OpenBSD is another free Unix operating system based on the BSD source
code. The goal of OpenBSD is to be as secure as possible, and they
are the primary developers of the OpenSSH secure shell project.
- The OpenBSD project does not currently offer ISO images for download
(More Information).
However, we will try to have an install CD available at the InstallFest.
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